Cocopah Museum’s gift shop specializes in tribal tradition of beauty
Sometimes the best teacher for a cultural lesson is a beautiful piece of art.
That’s a secret proved true every day at the Cocopah Indian Tribe’s museum gift shop. That’s where jewelry, pottery, blankets and beadwork don’t just look pretty – they tell stories, too.
“Art is something tangible people can take home with them, other than just a mental imprint they get from our museum,” said Joe Rodriguez, a member of the museum staff. “People are just excited to have a piece of our culture.”
The Cocopah Museum boasts numerous colorful and engaging displays, but Rodriguez chuckles as he admits that the gift shop is still one of visitors’ favorite spots. That’s fine with museum staff, too, because their goal is to tell the story of the Cocopah Indian Tribe, to teach non-natives about their tribe’s rich traditions. Again, pretty things tend to teach some pretty good lessons.
“Art educates people by bringing them to a place they haven’t been before. It takes people out of their comfort zones by experiencing something new,” Rodriguez explained. “When people leave here a little educated, that’s our goal. We just want to spread the news that we’re out here, that we have something to contribute and that we have a very vibrant artistic culture.”
